Stevie Taylor’s HR lifts YSU softball

HAMPTON, VA.

Senior Stevie Taylor — a South Range graduate — hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lift the Youngstown State softball team to a 4-3 win over Lafayette on Saturday.

Trailing 3-1 after six innnings, freshman Nikki Saibene singled home Lexi Zappitelli, who walked, and Taylor belted a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield wall to give the Penguins a 4-3 edge. In the bottom half of the seventh, junior Paige Geanangel allowed an infield single then induced a ground out, a flyout and a grounder to short to pick up the complete-game victory.

Taylor, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, drove in Hannah Lucas, who singled, with the game’s first run and put the Penguins up 1-0 in the top of the third.

Lafayette answered with a run in the bottom half of the third and two more in the bottom of the fifth.